Mule Watson gets traded again (April 4, 1918)

Tags

1918, 1921, April 4, August 13, Bert Niehoff, Boston Braves, Double Header, Mule Watson

The Phillies trade infielder Bert Niehoff (.255, 2, 42) on April 4, 1918 and send cash to the Cardinals for rookie right-hander Mule Watson. Niehoff will play just one more season before retiring.

Watson will pitch two seasons with Philadelphia, posting a 7-11 record, before being traded to the Braves.

Mule is very famous for starting both ends of a double header. On the 12th and 13 August 1921, Watson became the last pitcher in Major League history to start both games of a doubleheader twice in the same season.

On August 12, 1921, both teams used the same starting pitcher in both games of a doubleheader at Braves Field in Boston, the only time that’s happened in major league history.  Phillies manager Kaiser Wilhelm (who had taken over from Bill Donovan less than three weeks earlier) sent George Smith to the mound in both games, while boston skipper Fred Mitchell called on Jack Scott, the same fellow who threw the two complete games in a 1927 twin-bill.  (Scott had also started both games of a double dip in 1920.)  The account in the New York Times doesn’t call any special attention to the situation:  “Scott and Smith started both games, but the former was hit hard and finished neither, and Smith did not finish the first.”  Scott took the loss in both games; neither pitcher made it our of the third inning of the opener, then Smith threw a 12-hit shutout in game two.

The next day, Mitchell started Mule Watson in both games of another doubleheader against Philly, and Watson went the distance in winning both games, holding on to win the first game 4-3, then retiring the first 14 batters he faced in game two on the way to a two-hit shutout.  Watson, like Scott, had previous experience starting two games in a day, having done so twice in his first two months in the majors in 1918 for the A’s.  That made Watson, who won 50 games in an otherwise unremarkable major league career, the last man to do doubleheader duty twice in a season.

Source: https://prestonjg.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/a-thorough-account-of-pitchers-who-have-started-both-games-of-a-doubleheader-in-the-major-leagues/

How bad can it get in a season? Owner Judge Emil Fuchs manages the team. (1929)

Tags

1922, 1929, Christy Mathewson, John McGraw, Judge Emil Fuchs

Judge Emil Fuchs

How bad can it get in a season? I don’t know if 1929 was the worst but the depression started and the Boston Braves hit a new low.

That was pretty depressing for sure. The went 56-98 ending up eighth and 43 games behind. It was so bad the owner, Judge Emil Fuchs, managed the team. In fact, he managed the whole season.

While this is hard to believe, the team had actually been slightly worse the year before. So, in 1929, the improved 6 whole games and managed not to lose 100+ games. But, when you are in last place, everything is relative. They hadn’t been in last since 1924.

You can’t really say that Fuchs had his heart in baseball. He was the attorney for John McGraw when he was with the New York Giants. McGraw bought the Braves with with Christy Mathewson and James McDonough in 1922.

Matthewson was originally intended to be the principal owner. However, Mathewson’s precarious health (he’d suffered a severe case of tuberculosis during World War I and never recovered) forced him to turn over the team presidency to Fuchs after the 1923 season.

After Jack Slattery quit as manager, Fuchs hired Rogers Hornsby to manage the rest of the 1928 season. However, Fuchs was already in financial trouble, and was forced to sell Hornsby to the Chicago Cubs after the season.

He then took over as his own manager, finishing in last place. The Philadelphia Phillies loaned Fuchs $35,000 to keep the Braves solvent.

Boston Braves win at the South End Grounds beating the Dodgers 11-7 (May 2, 1912)

Tags

1911, 1912, Brooklyn Dodgers, Buster Brown, James Gaffney, May 2, South End Grounds, William Hepburn Russell

Buster Brown

Team owner William Hepburn Russell died after the 1911 season and his stock was bought up by a group including James Gaffney and former baseball manager John Montgomery Ward. The team was renamed the Boston Braves after the Tammany Hall Braves.

At South End Grounds on May 2, 1912, the hometown Braves score ten runs in the first two innings and hold on to defeat the Dodgers, 11-7.

Brooklyn scores four runs in the bottom of the third to knock out Boston’s starter Buster Brown.

Here is a little more about Buster’s career as a pitcher.

Standard Pitching

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS
1905	23	STL	NL	8	11	.421	2.97	23	21
1906	24	STL	NL	8	16	.333	2.64	32	27
1907	25	TOT	NL	10	12	.455	2.74	30	24
1907	25	STL	NL	1	6	.143	3.39	9	8
1907	25	PHI	NL	9	6	.600	2.42	21	16
1908	26	PHI	NL	0	0		2.57	3	0
1909	27	TOT	NL	4	8	.333	3.16	25	18
1909	27	PHI	NL	0	0		3.24	7	1
1909	27	BSN	NL	4	8	.333	3.14	18	17
1910	28	BSN	NL	9	23	.281	2.67	46	29
1911	29	BSN	NL	8	18	.308	4.29	42	25
1912	30	BSN	NL	4	15	.211	4.01	31	21
1913	31	BSN	NL	0	0		4.73	2	0
9 Yr	9 Yr	9 Yr	9 Yr	51	103	.331	3.21	234	165
162	162	162	162	9	18	.331	3.21	40	28
BSN	BSN	BSN	BSN	25	64	.281	3.54	139	92
PHI	PHI	PHI	PHI	9	6	.600	2.56	31	17
STL	STL	STL	STL	17	33	.340	2.86	64	56

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/15/2017.

Jim Thorpe signs as a free agent with the Giants (February 1, 1913)

Tags

1913, 1919, Boston Braves, February 1, Jim Thorpe, September 25

Jim Thorpe

Olympic hero Jim Thorpe, turning down an offer from the last-place Browns, signs with the Giants on February 1, 1913, the defending NL champs.

Because the minor league team that last held Jim Thorpe’s contract had disbanded in 1910, he found himself in the rare position of being a sought-after free agent at the major league level during the era of the reserve clause, and thus had a choice of baseball teams for which to play

The Native American, who grew up in the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma, will compile a lifetime .252 batting average during his six seasons in the major leagues, which also includes stints with the Reds and Braves.

His last appearance would be for the Boston Braves on September 25, 1919.

Twenty one innings with a 0-0 tie gets broken up (August 1, 1918)

Tags

1918, August 1, Boston Braves, Buck Herzog, Dick Goat

Boston Braves Logo

There are long games and then there are very long games. No one scoring a run makes it even worse.

So, on August 1, 1918, the Pirates break the longest scoreless tie in baseball history against the Boston Braves, when the team tallies two runs in the top of the twenty-first inning for an eventual 2-0 victory at Braves Field. The Braves had 15 hits but were unable to score. The lead off hitter, Buck Herzog, had 5 hits but nobody could get him home.

The mark will be matched by Giants and Reds in 1967, when each team is held scoreless for twenty innings, until the decisive run is scored in the next frame on a bases-loaded walk to Dick Groat.

Boston Braves Table

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA	Details
Buck Herzog 2B	9	0	5	0	1	0	.229
Jim Kelly LF	8	0	1	0	0	1	.207	2·SB,HBP
Red Massey CF	9	0	4	0	0	0	.291
Al Wickland RF	8	0	2	0	1	1	.266
Red Smith 3B	8	0	1	0	0	2	.306	SH
Ed Konetchy 1B	6	0	1	0	3	0	.218
John Henry C	2	0	0	0	1	0	.208
Tom Miller PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Doc Bass PR	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000	SB
Art Wilson C	5	0	1	0	0	0	.250
Jimmy Smith SS	7	0	0	0	1	2	.185	HBP
Art Nehf P	7	0	0	0	0	0	.179	SH
Johnny Rawlings PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	.209
Team Totals	71	0	15	0	7	6	.211

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/13/2017.

July 4, 1919 – The second game and … my dad is born!

Tags

1919, Dick Rudolph, Ebbets Field, Everett Wiley Wilson, Johnny Rawlings, July 4, Rabbit Maranville

The Boston Braves (now known as the Atlanta Braves) won the second game of the Double Header on July 4, 1919 at Ebbets Field after having lost the first game. At this point in the season we were in 7th place, 15 1/2 games behind.

My dad (Everett Wiley Wilson) was born this day. He probably would have expected them to split this. He saw or listened to a lot of games over the years. Johnny Rawlings, the second baseman, went 4 for 5 at bats in this game with a home run, a double, and a stolen base. Rabbit Maranville, our shortstop,  went 2 for 3 with a home run and sacrifice hit. Dick Rudolf was the winning pitcher with a complete game. Both runs were earned.

And so, my dad was born. He would come to love the Braves.

The longest game ever played ends in a 1-1 tie (May 1, 1920)

Tags

1920, Boston Braves, Joe Oeschger, May 1

Joe Oeschger

The longest game ever played ends after 26 innings in a 1-1 tie. They would have kept on playing but it was called because of darkness.

Now imagine this. Brooklyn Robin Leon Cadore and Brave Joe Oeschger both go the distance for their respective clubs. Braves’ Charlie Pick establishes the major league record for hitless at-bats in one game as he goes 0-for-11 in the marathon.

Oescheger only gave up 9 hits the entire game, while Cadore allowed 15.

For the rest of the 1920 season Oescheger won 15 games with a 3.46 earned run average.

 

Making a change, new manager but the same owner (1930)

Tags

1930, Bill McKechnie, Boston Braves, Judge Emil Fuchs

Judge Fuchs’, the owner, decided to make a change in the manager position.

It happens frequently in baseball. What you don’t see, because it can’t be done, is the owner being fired. I am sure there are lots of times the fans would prefer that. It can’t happen.

He selected Bill McKechnie as the Boston Braves manager in 1930. He had a pretty good track record. In Pittsburgh he won the World Series in 1925. In St. Louis he won the pennant in 1928. After he left Boston he won a World Series for Cincinnati in 1940.

In 1930 the Braves finished 6th, 22 games behind the leader. Their record was 70-84. It wouldn’t get much better during his eight years in Boston.

Cardinals hurler Hi Bell goes the distance in both games of a Sportsman’s Park doubleheader beating the Braves, 6-1 and 2-1 (July 19, 1924)

Tags

1924, Boston Braves, Hi Bell, July 19, St. Louis Cardinals

This is stunning. We can’t imagine it today. It is hard to get one complete game now. Cardinals hurler Herman “Hi” Bell goes the distance in both games of a Sportsman’s Park doubleheader on July 19, 1924, beating the Boston Braves, 6-1 and 2-1.

The 27 year-old right-hander from Kentucky will be the last National League pitcher to win two complete game victories in one day.

For his career, he compiled a 32–34 record in 221 appearances, most as a relief pitcher, with an 3.69 earned run average and 191 strikeouts. Bell was a member of three National League pennant winners (1926, 1930 & 1933), winning two World Series with the 1926 Cardinals and the 1933 Giants. Don’t we all wish we could do that?

In World Series play, he recorded no decisions in three appearances, with a 4.50 earned run average and 1 strikeout.

July 4, 1919 – A double header

Tags

1919, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers, Ebbets Field, Everett Wiley Wilson, July 4

My dad was born on this day. He loved the Atlanta Braves. They were the Boston Braves at this point.

1919 was not a great year for the Braves and July 4^th would be fairly typical of the season. The played a double header on this day. They split the pair with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

And so, my dad (Everett Wiley Wilson) was born and the Braves split a pair.

18 putouts is a record (June 26, 1935)

Tags

1935, Babe Ruth, Boston Braves, June 26, Lloyd Waner

Lloyd Waner (The Poison)

There are some things as a fan you aren’t proud of. There are some records that are set where your team is on the loosing side of things.

On June 26, 1935, Pirates’ center fielder Lloyd Waner (his nickname was the Little Poison) sets the major league mark recording 18 putouts in a doubleheader sweep of the Boston Braves. He would later play for the Braves in 1941.

Not a pretty day for the Boston Braves.

And of course, 1935 wasn’t a great year for the Braves in general. They would finish dead last that year with the worst record in the National League. A 38-115 season is just not pretty.

It was also a year of dreams for Babe Ruth. He really wanted to manage. He came to Braves in February of 1935 as vice president and assistant manager. The Braves would give him a shot. To entice the Babe, the team owner, Emil Fuchs promised Ruth a share of the team profits (assuming there would be some). It just didn’t work out for the Babe.

The Barnes brothers battle it out in a pitching duel (June 26, 1924)

Tags

1917, 1923, 1924, Boston Braves, Jesse Barnes, June 26, New York Giants, No Hitter, October 2, Virgil Barnes

Jesse Barnes – Boston Braves

In a matchup at the Polo Grounds on June 26, 1924, Giants’ right-hander Virgil Barnes faces his older sibling, Jesse, marking the first time brothers have started against one another in major league history. Neither of Luther and Sade’s sons will be credited with the victory, but Jesse will be tagged with the loss when New York beats his Boston Braves, 8-1.

The Barnes brothers will match up four more times during their careers‚ the first, including three days from this date.

Jesse began his majors career in 1914 with the Boston Braves. In 1917 he led the National League with 21 losses. On October 2, 1917, he became the only NL pitcher to walk two times in one inning.

In 1918, Jesse was traded to the New York Giants. He had three very good years with the Giants. On the last day of the 1919 season, he won his National League-leading 25th victory, 6–1, over Lee Meadows and the Philadelphia Phillies at Polo Grounds. The game was played at a feverish pace and lasted a mere 51 minutes, a major league record that still stands as the shortest nine-inning game ever played.

In 1920 Jesse had 20 wins, following with 15 wins in 1921 and two victories in the 1921 World Series against the New York Yankees. Then, in 1922 he hurled a no-hitter against the Phillies.

He returned to the Boston Braves in 1923, playing for them three years before joining the Brooklyn Robins from 1926 through 1927. For the second time, he led the league in losses (20) in 1924.

Both Jesse and Virgil were teammates with the Giants from 1919 to 1923.

Here is the box score from June 26, 1924.

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG
Dave Bancroft SS	4	1	1	0	0	0	.303	.375	.373
Ray Powell CF	4	0	1	0	0	0	.202	.255	.242
Bill Cunningham LF	4	0	2	1	0	0	.311	.351	.429
Stuffy McInnis 1B	4	0	3	0	0	0	.280	.303	.360
Cotton Tierney 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	.308	.354	.389
Casey Stengel RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	.259	.325	.362
Ernie Padgett 3B	3	0	0	0	0	1	.297	.353	.416
Mickey O’Neil C	3	0	0	0	0	1	.262	.270	.273
Jesse Barnes P	1	0	0	0	0	0	.143	.143	.143
Al Yeargin P	2	0	0	0	0	2	.316	.316	.421
Team Totals	33	1	7	1	0	5	.212	.212	.212

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/20/2016.

When two 100 plus loosing teams face each other, who loses? (October 6, 1923)

Tags

1905, 1923, Boston Beanearters, Boston Braves, October 6

Boston Braves

On October 6, 1923. for only the second time in major league history, two 100-loss teams face one another when the 52-100 Boston Braves beat the 50-102 Phillies in the first game of a season-ending doubleheader, 5-4.

Boston, then known as the Beaneaters, was also part of the first occurrence of this rare type of matchup when the 50-100 club played the 45-103 team from Brooklyn in 1905.

Not the kind of record you want to be known for by any means. But that is the Braves. A long history, some not so fun to remember.

 

Les Mann, an all around athletic hero and Boston Brave — Guest blog by Keith Spalding Robbins

Tags

1914, 1935, George Stallings, Jimmie Foxx, Keith Robbins, Les Mann, Max Carey, Miami Baseball School, Wheaties

Guest blog article by Keith Spalding Robbins

Figure 1: Les Mann teaching a Miami local the art of being a Catcher. Sorry Toronto, but there no dresses worn in this baseball game.
Source: Baseball Hall of Fame Photo

Les Mann: baseball hero, football hero, basketball star, World Series hero, Track and Field hero, Wheaties Box Hero, Global Baseball Ambassador, Olympian and of course a Boston Brave.

He was a man of great athletic talents not seen since fellow Brave Dione Sanders.

His life was full, and his influence in baseball today albeit forgotten was paramount in making international baseball a reality.

Before the creation of US Baseball, Les Mann took US Select teams to Japan, Berlin, Havana, and throughout the world as amateur goodwill ambassadors for baseball.

By all accounts his best sport was probably football where he dominated the college gridiron of the Pre WWI era. He was classified as a football All-American in 1911 as a 19-year old and freshman at Springfield College. His most remarkable game was against Jim Thorpe and his Carlise School. And to stay busy and to pay bills he played professional baseball in the summer months. He played for the Braves in the summer and attended nearby Springfield College in winter months. By the time the Braves signed him in 1913 they forbid him from football, so Mann coached the football team and played basketball.

In the platoon system of George Stallings’ 1914 Miracle Braves, Mann did not start often but always seemed to be in thick of things and when a hit was needed, he delivered. In the World Series he knocked in the winning run in game two and scored the winning run in the twelve inning game three. He caught the game ending fly ball as well in game 4, and got his shirt ripped off his back by the excited beantowners as they stormed the field and celebrated the Braves miraculous victory.

Yet for all his on the field heroics, it was his advanced coaching and teaching that propelled him to greater success. For one he was the creator and inventor of film studies in sports.

He started a baseball school in Miami, along with Pirates Hall of Fame Center Fielder Max Carey and featured Jimmie Foxx as the headliner. With ads placed in Sporting News and other magazine the school had a national reach recruited the best baseball youth talent. The incentive was not MLB connections but the chance to be part of the foreign baseball and global travel. It was known as the Miami Baseball School.

This school served as springboard for Mann created what was later known as the National Baseball Congress which sponsored US National Travel teams.

In 1935 with sponsorship from Wheaties Cereal he took a select team adorned with the US letters on the front, and Wheaties on the left sleeve to Japan for a series of baseball exhibitions. This successful tour set the stage for an even greater baseball endeavor.

In 1936 Les Mann organized the US Olympic Baseball Team that played a demonstration game in front of Hitler himself and 100,000 baseball illiterate Germans. As part of making baseball a demonstration sport in the 1936 Games, Mann was promised that baseball would be a full sport in the 1940 and 1944 games. The 1940 Games were supposed to have be staged in Tokyo.

He did so with sponsorship from Louisville Slugger and other baseball companies but without any MLB support, nor US Olympic Team funding either.

So the connection between the Braves and the Olympics far extends back some 80 years ago this summer well beyond the confines of Turner Field, and rests with a former Miracle Braves part-timer centerfielder Les Mann.

Photo Source: Baseball Hall of Fame Photo

 

 

 

Philadelphia Phillies at Boston Braves win 3-0 on Opening Day (April 14, 1915)

Tags

1915, April 14, Boston Braves, Opening Day, Philadelphia Phillies

It’s opening day the year after the Miracle Braves won the World Series. So, on April 14, 1915, the Phillies beat the Braves 3-0. Dick Rudolph was the losing pitcher for the Braves. George Stallings, coming off the glow of 1914 is managing. The game is played at Fenway Park with 12,000 in attendance. The game started at 1:43.

The Braves start the season 0-1. They had lost opening day in 1914 as well.

No big deal. The Braves would finish 2nd in the National League with a 83-69 record, 7 games behind Philadelphia. The Boston Red Sox would end up beating Philadelphia in the World Series 4-1.

 

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	PO	A
Herbie Moran RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	.000	.000	.000	.000	1	0
Johnny Evers 2B	4	0	2	0	0	0	4	.500	.500	.500	1.000	2	2	2·SB
Joe Connolly LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	4	.000	.000	.000	.000	1	0
Sherry Magee CF	3	0	1	0	1	0	4	.333	.500	.333	.833	4	0
Butch Schmidt 1B	3	0	0	0	1	1	4	.000	.250	.000	.250	7	0
Red Smith 3B	3	0	1	0	0	0	4	.333	.333	.333	.667	1	1	SB,SH
Rabbit Maranville SS	3	0	2	0	0	1	3	.667	.667	.667	1.333	2	3
Hank Gowdy C	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000	.000	.000	.000	9	2
Dick Rudolph P	3	0	0	0	0	2	3	.000	.000	.000	.000	0	2
Team Totals	30	0	6	0	2	5	33	.200	.250	.200	.450	27	10

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/17/2016.

What would the all time roster for the Braves look like?

Tags

Andruw Jones, Bobby Lowe, Chipper Jones, Craig Kimbrel, Dale Murphy, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, Herman Long, Joe Torre, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, Warren Spahn

Atlanta Braves Logo

How would you fill out the all time roster for a team with as much talent as the Braves have had since 1871? Not easy. Recently Nick Selbe gave it a shot.

Here is his list.

Year founded: 1871

1966-present: Atlanta Braves
1953-1965: Milwaukee Braves
1936-1940: Boston Bees
1912-1935, 1941-1952: Boston Braves
1911: Boston Rustlers
1907-1910: Boston Doves
1883-1906: Boston Beaneaters
1876-1882: Boston Red Caps
1871-1875: Boston Red Stockings

Total WAR: 819.9

C: Joe Torre (1960-1968; 33.3)
1B: Dale Murphy (1976-1990; 46.9)
2B: Bobby Lowe (1890-1901; 19.1)
3B: Eddie Mathews (1952-1966; 94.4)
SS: Herman Long (1890-1902; 35.4)
OF: Hank Aaron (1954-1974; 142.1)
OF: Chipper Jones (1993-2012; 85.0)
OF: Andruw Jones (1996-2007; 61.0)

SP: Kid Nichols (1890-1901; 108.5)
SP: Warren Spahn (1942, 1946-1964; 92.0)
SP: Phil Niekro (1964-1983, 1987; 90.0)
RP: Craig Kimbrel (2010-2014; 12.2)

Making the all-time roster for MLB’s oldest continually running franchise was no small task. To make room for the three outfielders, we shifted Dale Murphy to first base, despite his primarily playing the outfield. Murphy made 205 appearances at first base in his first two big league seasons.

Though none of them made the final cut, the trio of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine deserve to be mentioned. As teammates from 1993-2002, they combined for a 453-224 record, with 4,616 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA.

Source: Filling Out All-Time Rosters for Each MLB Franchise

Boston Braves beat the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day (April 12, 1916)

Tags

1916, April 12, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers, Dick Rudolph, Rabbit Maranville, Sherry Magee

Rabbit Maranville

It is opening day in 1916. It is a great day for a win. The Boston Braves will not disappoint us this day. They beat the Dodgers 5-1. Playing at Ebbets Field, the attendance is projected to be around 10,000. Pretty good for those days.

The winning pitcher is Dick (Baldy) Rudolph. Rabbit Maranville will hit .500 starting the season very well. Sherry Magee will bat .600. The losing pitcher for the Dodgers is Larry Cheney.

I love opening day. A day filled with hope.

 

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	PO	A
Rabbit Maranville SS	4	1	2	0	0	1	5	.500	.500	.750	1.250	1	3	2B,SB,SH
Johnny Evers 2B	3	1	0	1	1	1	5	.000	.250	.000	.250	0	5	SH
Joe Wilhoit RF	3	0	0	1	0	0	5	.000	.000	.000	.000	2	0	SB,2·SH
Sherry Magee LF	5	1	3	1	0	0	5	.600	.600	1.000	1.600	3	0	3B
Ed Konetchy 1B	4	0	2	0	0	1	4	.500	.500	.500	1.000	13	0
Red Smith 3B	3	0	0	1	0	0	4	.000	.000	.000	.000	1	1	SH
Pete Compton CF	1	0	0	0	3	0	4	.000	.750	.000	.750	3	0
Hank Gowdy C	4	1	1	0	0	2	4	.250	.250	.250	.500	4	0
Dick Rudolph P	3	1	1	0	1	0	4	.333	.500	.667	1.167	0	3	2B
Team Totals	30	5	9	4	5	5	40	.300	.400	.433	.833	27	12

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/17/2016.

The Braves first unassisted triple play (October 6, 1923)

Tags

1923, Boston Braves, Ernie Padgett, October 6

Ernie Padgett

Triple plays aren’t easy. Unassisted triple plays are very rare. They are an amazing thing to see.

I wished I could have seen this one. History in the making for the whole National League. No one had ever seen this before.

The first unassisted triple play in National League history occurs on October 6, 1923 when the Boston Braves’ shortstop Ernie Padgett catches Phillies first baseman Walter Holke’s line drive, doubles up James Tierney at second, and then tags Cliff Lee for the third out.

In MLB, a total of fifteen players have fielded an unassisted triple play,^[3] making this feat rarer than a perfect game.^[4] Of these fifteen players, eight were shortstops, five were second basemen and two were first basemen. TheCleveland Indians are the only franchise to have three players achieve the feat while on their roster: Ball, Bill Wambsganss and Asdrúbal Cabrera. The shortest time between two unassisted triple plays occurred in May 1927, when Johnny Neun executed the feat less than 24 hours after Jimmy Cooney.^[5] Conversely, it took more than 41 seasons after Neun’s play before Ron Hansen performed the feat on July 30, 1968, marking the longest span between unassisted triple plays.^[5] The last player to make an unassisted triple play is Eric Bruntlett, accomplishing the feat on August 23, 2009.^[6] Only Neun and Bruntlett executed unassisted triple plays that ended the game.

Source: Wikipedia

Boston Braves at Brooklyn Robins lose 8-2 (April 14, 1914)

Tags

1914, April 14, Bert Whaling, Boston Braves, Brookly Robins, Butch Schmidt, Charlie Deal, Ebbets Field, George Stallings, Joe Connolly, Johnny Evers, Larry Gilbert, Lefty Tyler, Opening Day, Rabbit Maranville, Tommy Griffith

The 1914 Boston Braves started the season on April 14 at Ebbets Field against the Brooklyn Robins. Opening day is always amazing. No one knew it would be the “Miracle Braves” that year. The Braves performed one of the most memorable reversals in major league history, going from last place to first place in two months, becoming the first team to win a pennant after being in last place on the Fourth of July.

They lost 8-2. The attendance was about 15,000 and started at 2:09. The losing pitcher was  Lefty Tyler. The Braves had 9 hits for the game and scored 2 runs in the 8th. George Stallings was the manager for the Braves. It wasn’t a great start for World Series champs that year. It would get better though.

The starting line ups for the teams was as follows.

	Boston Braves				Brooklyn Dodgers
1	Rabbit Maranville	SS		1	Jack Dalton	CF
2	Johnny Evers	2B		2	George Cutshaw	2B
3	Larry Gilbert	CF		3	Jake Daubert	1B
4	Tommy Griffith	RF		4	Zack Wheat	LF
5	Butch Schmidt	1B		5	Red Smith	3B
6	Joe Connolly	LF		6	Casey Stengel	RF
7	Charlie Deal	3B		7	Dick Egan	SS
8	Bert Whaling	C		8	Otto Miller	C
9	Lefty Tyler	P		9	Ed Reulbach	P

Here is how the Braves batted that day.

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO
Rabbit Maranville SS	4	0	1	1	0	2
Johnny Evers 2B	4	0	1	0	1	0
Larry Gilbert CF	5	0	1	0	0	0
Tommy Griffith RF	5	0	0	0	0	0
Butch Schmidt 1B	3	0	0	0	1	0
Joe Connolly LF	3	0	1	0	1	1
Charlie Deal 3B	3	0	1	0	0	0
Jack Martin PR-3B	0	1	0	0	0	0
Oscar Dugey PH-3B	1	0	0	0	0	0
Bert Whaling C	3	1	1	0	0	2
Hank Gowdy C	1	0	0	0	0	0
Lefty Tyler P	2	0	2	0	0	0
Dick Crutcher P	1	0	1	1	0	0
Les Mann PH	1	0	0	0	0	1
Team Totals	36	2	9	2	3	6

Source: April 14, 1914 Boston Braves at Brooklyn Robins Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

April 14, 1914

Ted Cather helps win in 1914

Tags

1914, April 9, Boston Braves, May 20, Ted Cather

Ted Cather

Theodore Physick Cather was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on May 20, 1889. Ted played outfielder from 1912-1915. He would play for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Braves.

In 1914, Cather was a member of the Braves team that went from last place to first place in two months, becoming the first team to win a pennant after being in last place on the Fourth of July.

Ted passed away on April 9, 1945 in Elkton, Maryland.

Source: Ted Cather – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Johnny Evers rejoins the Braves as a scout (1929)

Tags

1929, Albany Senators, Bill McKechnie, Boston Braves, Emil Fuchs, Hank Gowdy, Johnny Evers, Rogers Hornsby

Johnny Evers

Johnny Evers rejoined the Boston Braves as a scout. As Braves owner Emil Fuchs sold manager Rogers Hornsby to the Cubs and assumed managerial duties himself for the 1929 season, Fuchs hired Evers as a coach. Fuchs had no experience as a field manager, and so Evers became captain of the Braves, directing the team during the game and dealing with umpires.

Evers and fellow coach Hank Gowdy played in one game in the 1929 season, coming into the bottom of the ninth inning on October 6, 1929. In the process, Evers became the oldest player in the league for the year. Evers remained a coach for the Braves under Bill McKechnie, who succeeded Fuchs as field manager in 1930, and served in the role through 1932. He continued to scout for the Braves, and then became general manager of the Albany Senators of the New York-Pennsylvania League in 1935.

He resigned from Albany at the end of the season. Over his managerial career, he posted a 180–192 record.

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” ~Babe Ruth

Tags

Babe Ruth

It is the optimism of sports, and baseball in particular, that I love. Babe Ruth got it for sure.

Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.

~~Babe Ruth

Johnny Evers wanted to play for less money (1914)

Tags

1914, Boston Braves, Chalmers Award, Federal League, Johnny Evers

Johnny Evers

After the 1913 season, Johnny Evers was offered $100,000 ($2,386,195 in current dollar terms) to jump to the Federal League, but he opted to take less money to remain with the Cubs.

In February 1914, after Evers signed his players to contracts, Murphy fired Evers as manager and traded him to the Boston Braves for Bill Sweeney and Hub Perdue. Murphy insisted that Evers had resigned as manager, which Evers denied. Evers insisted he was a free agent, but the league assigned him to the Braves. He signed a four-year contract at $10,000 per season ($235,449 in current dollar terms), with a $20,000 signing bonus.

During the 1914 season, the Braves fell into last place of the eight-team NL by July 4. However, the Braves came back from last place in the last ten weeks of the season to win the NL pennant. Evers’ .976 fielding percentage led all NL second basemen. The Braves defeated the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914 World Series, four games to none, as Evers batted 7-for-16 (.438). Evers won the Chalmers Award, the forerunner of the modern-day Most Valuable Player award, ahead of teammate Rabbit Maranville.

Evers was limited in 1915 by injuries, and also served suspension for arguing with umpires. After a poor season in 1916, Evers began the 1917 season with a .193 batting average. Due to Evers’ declining performance, the Braves placed Evers on waivers at mid-season, and he was claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Evers rejected an offer to become manager of the Jersey City Skeeters of the International League that offseason. He signed with the Boston Red Sox as a player-coach for the 1918 season, but was released without playing a game for them. Not receiving another offer from an MLB team, Evers traveled to Paris as a member of the Knights of Columbus to promote baseball in France.

Johnny Evers is MVP for the 1914 World Series Champions

Tags

1881, 1914, 1946, 1947, Frank Selee, Hall of Fame, Johnny Evers, July 21, March 28, MVP, Troy NY

Johnny Evers

John Joseph Evers was born on July 21, 1881 and was a second baseman and manager. He played from 1902 through 1917 for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Braves, and Philadelphia Phillies. He also appeared in one game apiece for the Chicago White Sox and Braves while coaching them in 1922 and 1929, respectively.

Evers was born in Troy, New York. After playing for the local minor league baseball team for one season, Frank Selee, manager of the Cubs, purchased Evers’s contract and soon made him his starting second baseman. Evers helped lead the Cubs to four National League pennants, including two World Series championships. The Cubs traded Evers to the Braves in 1914. That season, Evers led the Braves to victory in the World Series, and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Evers continued to play for the Braves and Phillies through 1917. He then became a coach, scout, manager, and general manager in his later career.

Known as one of the smartest ballplayers in MLB, Evers also had a surly temper that he took out on umpires. Evers was a part of a great double-play combination with Joe Tinker and Frank Chance, which was immortalized as “Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance” in the poem “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon”. Evers was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1946.

Evers passed away on March 28, 1947.

 

Charlie Deal helps the 1914 Boston Braves win the World Series

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1891, 1914, 1979, Boston Braves, Charlie Deal, Federal League, October 30, September 16, World Series

Charlie Deal

Charles Albert Deal was born on October 30, 1891 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania and played third base in the Major Leagues from 1912 to 1921. He would play for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Braves, St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Terriers, and Detroit Tigers.

In 1914, Deal was a member of the Braves team that went from last place to first place in two months, becoming the first team to win a pennant after being in last place on the Fourth of July. The team then went on to defeat Connie Mack’s heavily favored Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914 World Series. When his request for a salary increase for 1915 was rejected, Deal jumped to the Federal League, playing for the St. Louis Terriers.

In 1917 Deal led the National League in sacrifice hits with 29. He also proved to be very reliable defensively, leading National League third baseman in fielding three years in a row (1919–1921). Deal then played for several teams in the Pacific Coast League in the mid-1920s, before ending his career at Chattanooga in the Southern Association in 1927.

He passed away on September 16, 1979 in Covina, California.

Tom Hughes helps the Boston Braves win the World Series in 1914

Tags

1914, Boston Braves, Fred Mitchell, George Stallings, January 28, November 1, October 5, September 5, Tom Hughes, World Series

Tome Hughes

Thomas L. Hughes born in Coal Creek, Colorado, on January 28, 1884. was a right-handed pitcher for the Boston Braves (1914–18). He was also the brother of former major league pitcher Ed Hughes.

He helped the Braves win the 1914 World Series. His contract with Rochester was purchase by the Braves on September 5, 1914.

George Stallings was then manager of the Braves. Stallings had witnessed his performance with the Highlanders and with Rochester. And Fred Mitchell, who essentially served as Stallings’ pitching coach on the Braves, coached with Stallings on the Highlanders, then played with Hughes at Rochester in 1911. The day Hughes was purchased, the Braves were in a first-place tie with the Giants; they finished winning 27 of 34 games to sweep past New York. Hughes contributed two victories to the late-season run; his first, a complete-game 3-2 effort on September 29 against Chicago, clinched the pennant for the Braves.

It was the Braves’ first championship since the old Beaneaters took the title in 1898. Hughes won again on October 5 against Brooklyn as Stallings was clearly resting James, Rudolph, and Tyler for the World Series against the Philadelphia A’s. Even though Hughes came to the Braves late in the season, the team’s victory brought him acclaim in hometown Salida. Salida’s Mountain Mail noted,

Mr. Hughes grew up in this city, spends his winters here and has a multitude of friends who take delight in his success and who would like to see him have a chance in the World Series. His friends here have great confidence in him.

Hughes did not appear in the World Series, as the Braves dispatched the A’s in four straight games. Joining the team late, he was not eligible to receive $2,812 in World Series winning player shares. His late-season performance, however, gained him a place with the Braves for the next season.

He led the National League in Games (50), Saves (9) and Games Finished (22) in 1915 and Won-Loss percentage (.842) in 1916.

His accomplishments are being the Braves franchise career leader in WHIP (1.022) and Hits Allowed/9IP (6.77).

In 9 seasons he had a 56–39 Win-Loss record, 160 Games (87 Started), 55 Complete Games, 9 Shutouts, 59 Games Finished, 16 Saves, 863 Innings Pitched, 703 Hits Allowed, 309 Runs Allowed, 245 Earned Runs Allowed, 14 Home Runs Allowed, 235 Walks, 476 Strikeouts, 31 Hit Batsmen, 16 Wild Pitches, 3,340 Batters Faced, 2.56 ERA and a 1.087 WHIP.

He died in Los Angeles, California at the age of 77 on November 1, 1961.

 

After being ejected for swearing Johnny Evers claims he was talking to the ball. (September 14, 1914)

Tags

1914, Boston Braves, Federal League, Johnny Evers, Miracle Braves, September 14

Johnny Evers

After being ejected for swearing on September 14, 1914, Johnny Evers claims he was talking to the ball and not to umpire Mal Eason. The Boston Braves’ shortstop is still suspended for three days.

I love the creativity of his approach. While he missed three games, it didn’t seem to hurt the miracle season of 1914.

Consider this about Evers.

After the 1913 season, Evers was offered $100,000 ($2,386,195 in current dollar terms) to jump to the Federal League, but he opted to take less money to remain with the Cubs.^[ In February 1914, after Evers signed his players to contracts, Murphy fired Evers as manager and traded him to the Boston Braves for Bill Sweeney and Hub Perdue. Murphy insisted that Evers had resigned as manager, which Evers denied. Evers insisted he was a free agent, but the league assigned him to the Braves. He signed a four-year contract at $10,000 per season ($235,449 in current dollar terms), with a $20,000 signing bonus.

Source: Wikipedia

Boston Braves outfielder Babe Ruth announces his retirement (June 2, 1935)

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1935, Babe Ruth, Boston Braves, Judge Emil Fuchs, June 2, Retirement

Babe Ruth – Boston Brave

Boston Braves outfielder Babe Ruth announces his retirement from baseball on June 2, 1935.

The 40-year old former Yankees slugger wanted to retire three weeks sooner, but team owner Judge Emil Fuchs persuaded him to continue to play because Boston hadn’t played in every National League park.

Braves pitcher Tom Hughes hurls a no-hitter (April 5, 1916)

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1916, April 5, Boston Braves, No Hitter, Rabbit Maranville, Tom Hughes

Tom Hughes

On April 5, 1916, Boston Braves pitcher Tom Hughes hurls a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Braves Field. Hughes strikes out seven and walks two.

For the Braves, Rabbit Maranville walks three times and scores both of the Braves’ runs. (The box score is unclear on how the runs were scored, since there were no RBIs; Maranville may have stolen home for one of the runs.)

The Braves win 2-0.

Johnny Cooney – (1921-1930, 1938-1942)

Tags

1901, 1921, 1930, 1938, 1941, 1942, 1986, Bill Lohrman, Boston Bees, Boston Braves, Hank Greenberg, John Cooney, July 8, March 18

Johnny Cooney – Wikipedia

In a 20-season career, Cooney played for the Boston Bees/Braves (Braves, 1921–30, 1940–42; Bees, 1938–40) and also with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1935–37, 1943–44) and New York Yankees (1944), while hitting a .286 batting average (965-for-3372) with 219 RBI and only two home runs.

He had a very unique career. Perhaps one that we may never see again. He wasn’t the most accomplished player ever for the Braves. He was the only man to play in both leagues, coach in both leagues, manage in both leagues and umpire in one. He also had to overcome the obstacle of having surgery that left his throwing arm three inches shorter that his glove arm. He was a lefty.

He made 159 appearances as a pitcher from 1921 through 1930, all with Boston, winning 34 and losing 44 for a .436 winning percentage with 224 strikeouts and a 3.72 ERA in 795⅓ Innings pitched.

In Cooney’s 20 big league seasons, he only hit two home runs. They came on back to back days with the Bees in 1939.

According to Hank Greenberg’s biographer, before Greenberg’s very first spring training exhibition game in 1930 when his Detroit Tigers were set to play the Braves, Cooney felt sympathy towards the 19-year-old then known as Henry, took him aside before the game and promised, “Kid, I’m going to give you one you can hit.” He did, and Greenberg did, as the future Hall of Fame slugger launched an impressive homer over the fence.

Kid, I’m going to give you one you can hit. ~Johnny Cooney

Originally, in 1921, he was going to play for the Red Sox. I guess he like cash better than a check as the deal with the Red Sox would only be by check. The Braves paid in cash.

In his second stint in the Majors, after 1935, Cooney concentrated on playing outfield and first base. His two homers were hit in consecutive games in September 1939, when he again played for Boston. His best averages as a regular came with the Braves, .318 in 1940 and .319 in 1941.

In 1941 he seemed to be the on Brave who had his act together. He was 40 years old at the time. He was a league leader in hitting. He also led the outfielders with a .996 fielding average. Pretty good defense. He also broke up a no-hit bid by New York’s Bill Lohrman.

The other Hank (1911 – 1923, 1929, 1930)

Tags

1911, 1914, 1916, 1923, 1929, 1930, August 24, Boston Braves, Boston Rustlers, George Davis, Hank Gowdy, No Hitter, Tom Hughes

Hank Gowdy

Hank Gowdy came to the Braves in 1911 and played through 1923 and again in 29 to 30. He was a great catcher. Let’s just call him the “other Hank” but he is a stand out all on his own. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on August 24, 1889. He passed away on August 1, 1966.

What a thrill it had to be for him to play for the Miracle Braves. He was the star of the stunning October sweep of the highly favored Philadelphia Athletics.

Gowdy was the starting catcher for only the 1914 to 1916 seasons. He played with the club in all but 3 of his 17 seasons.

He caught a few no-hitters. A great experience for any catcher. He caught one by George Davis in 1914 (the Miracle year) and for Tom Hughes in 1916.

Boston Braves lose to the Giants at the Polo Grounds 5-8 (July 4, 1920)

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1920, Boston Braves, Everett Wiley Wilson, July 4

It wasn’t a great 4th of July for the Braves in 1920. They were at the Polo Grounds and ended up losing to the Giants 8-5. The losing pitcher for the Braves was Hugh McQuillan.

At that point in the season, the Braves were playing .500 ball. They would end up finishing seventh with a 62-90 record.

No fireworks for the Braves on the fourth that year.

My dad, Everett Wiley Wilson, was born the year before on 7/4/1919.

July 4 1920 the Braves lose to the Giants

Walter’s trade pays off (1919)

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1919, 1920, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers, Dick Rudolph, Jim Thorpe, May 1, May 30, Philadelphia Phillies, Rabbit Maranville, Walter Holke

Walter Holke

The Boston Braves played the Philadelphia Phillies on May 30, 1919. It was a great game for the Braves as they shut out the Phillies 6-0. It wasn’t necessarily a slug fest with 12 hits against the Phillies 4. The runs were evenly scattered with 2 each in the 2nd, 3rd and 7th innings.

The star of the game was first baseman Walter Holke, 26 that year. He had been traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Boston Braves for Jimmy Smith and cash. He went 2 for 4 scoring 1 run and getting 2 RBI’s against the Phillies that day. He also had 11 putouts at first base. Always a great fielder.

Holke holds the record for the most putouts by an infielder in a game, with 46 during a 26-inning game between the Boston Braves and the Brooklyn Dodgers on May 1, 1920.

Rabbit Maranville played short stop and went 1-3.  He had a sacrifice hit, 1 putout and 2 assists.

Jim Thorpe would not have a great day in that he would only get one at bat. He did get a hit in his only at bat. Red Smith would replace him in left field. Perhaps he was pulled because of an error he made.

Dick “Baldy” Rudolph was the winning pitcher. He was 31 that year. He pitched a complete game. With this win, his record came to 2-6. He struck out 4 while facing 31 batters and had a 1.77 ERA for the game. Over the three-year period 1914-16, Rudolph was one of baseball’s best and most durable pitchers, hurling over 300 innings each season. Dick developed arm trouble in 1918, when he pitched just 154 innings. Though he bounced back with one more workhorse season in 1919 with a 13-18 record. He pitched in only 25 games over the next eight years, when he was more of a coach than a pitcher.

Les Bell collects 15 total bases and the Braves still lose (June 2, 1928)

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1928, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds, June 2, Les Bell

Les Bell

This isn’t easy to do and yet the Boston Braves still lose. And they lost real bad.

At Braves Field on June 2, 1928, Les Bell collects 15 total bases, blasting three home runs and a triple. The third baseman’s offensive output isn’t enough when Boston bows to the Reds, 20-12.

The Babe at the Baker Bowl (1935)

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1935, Babe Ruth, Baker Bowl, Boston Braves, May 30, Philadelphia Phillies

Babe Ruth – Boston Brave

What an amazing player Babe Ruth was. And it would all end in Boston as a Brave.

On May 30, 1935, at the Baker Bowl, Babe Ruth of the Boston Braves plays his final major league game, going hitless in a first inning at-bat against the Phillies. On June 2, the former Yankees superstar will announce his retirement from baseball.

Billy Martin is traded to the Twins (June 1, 1961)

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1914, 1961, Billy Martin, June 1, Milwaukee Braves, Minnesota Twins

Billy Martin (1961 Braves)

Billy Martin is very famous. More as a Manager than a player. Sometimes players are just passing through for a few days.

After playing just playing six games with the Milwaukee Braves, on June 1, 1961, Billy Martin is traded to the Twins for Billy Consolo.

The fiery infielder will finish his 11-year career in the Twin Cities, spending the next eight years with the organization in various capacities, that includes managing the club to a first-place finish in 1969.

As a small footnote, there was another Billy Martin (William Gloyd Martin) who played for the Boston Braves in 1914. He only played one game and in 3 at bats, had no hits.

Harvard, as in Harvard Nebraska (1893)

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1893, 1913, 1929, 1969, 2008, Billy Southworth, Boston Braves, Hall of Fame

Billy Southworth

Billy Southworth was born William Harrison Southworth. The year was 1893 and that was in Harvard, Nebraska. He died in 1969. He saw a lot of baseball for sure. He played the game and managed. He was a right fielder and center fielder. He was a player  in 1913, 1915 and from 1918 to 1929. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was a player for the Boston Braves from 1921 to 1923.

Southworth turned to managing in 1929. He then took a break until 1940 and kept going until 1951. He managed for the Boston Braves from 1946 to 1949 and then again from 1950 to 1951.

He was finally inducted into the hall of fame in 2008.

Unlike me, he decided to play baseball against his father’s wishes. He didn’t do too bad. He batted .300 three times in his career.

No more Rabbit (1934)

Tags

1934, 1954, Bill McKechnie, Boston Braves, Hall of Fame, March 28, New York Yankee, Rabbit Maranville

Rabbit Maranville

It was a so so season for the Braves in 1934 but the worst part of it was losing Rabbit Maranville. They had a 78-87 record finishing 16 games behind in fourth place. It was Bill McKechnie’s 5th season but this went the way most of them did during his tenure.

Rabbit Maranville, even at age 42, was playing some pretty good ball so there was hope as the season started. It was his 24th season and he had become a Boston and National legend.

“When Rabbit Maranville breaks a leg right at the start of the opening of the season, that constitutes America’s greatest crisis, and if anybody reading this had to ask who Rabbit is, then you should be made to show your citizenship papers.” — Will Rogers

So, on March 28th, Rabbit’s career came to an end when he broke his leg sliding home on a double steal during an exhibition game with the Yankees. The leg was set on the field while Rabbit smoked a cigarette. He didn’t play that year at all. Maranville was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954 in his 14th year of eligibility. His election came just months after his death at age 62.

Not a club to belong to (1924)

Tags

1907, 1924, Bill Cunningham, Billy Southworth, Brooklyn Robins, Casey Stengel, Dave Bancroft, Fred Tenney, Joe Oescher, New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies

Dave Bancroft – Boston Braves

Is there a club for managers who loose 100 games? Probably not and if there is, you don’t hear a lot about it.

Loosing 100 games as a manager is devastating. Doing it twice in row is inviting disaster. Somehow Fred Tenney did it as the Boston manager in 1907. Fred Mitchell, however, couldn’t do it after 1922 – 23.

So, in came Dave Bancroft in 1924. How did he do? Lost 100!! Yep, he was 53-100 finishing eight and 40 games behind. Go figure.

Dave was known for being a pretty bright guy. He came to us from the Giants. Who did he bring with him? Well, a pretty eccentric outfielder. Casey Stengel was the man. Bill Cunningham came with Casey. Out went Billy Southworth and Joe Oeschger.

Nicknamed “Beauty” for his penchant for calling good pitches “beauties”, he played from 1915 to 1930, for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, Boston Braves, and Brooklyn Robins.

The Depression continues (1933)

Tags

1933, All Star, Bill McKechnie, Boston Braves, Comiskey Park, July 6, Wally Berger

Bill McKechnie

1933 was a year of improvements for the Boston Braves. In fact, they had the best record since 1921. The Braves ended up over .500 with a record of 83-71. They finished fourth, 9 games behind the leader. Bill McKechnie was kept on as the manager. Under his leadership, they were actually in the pennant race much of the season.

It was the middle of the depression and baseball was a welcome distraction in Boston. They Braves moved ahead by the fundamentals of improved pitching and a solid defense.

Wally Berger helped a lot. He had 27 of the team’s 54 home runs. Previous years had seen a decline in his power but not 1933. He was the only Brave to be in the first ever All-Star Game. It was held in Chicago on July 6 at the famed Comiskey Park.

Tammany Hall (1912)

Tags

1911, 1912, Boston Braves, Fred Tenney, James Gaffney, Johnny Kling

Fred Tenney

One of the partners in the Braves was James Gaffney. He had political ties with the Tammany Hall regime. That was in New York. The Braves were in Boston then. In 1912 they became the Boston Braves. Politicians who were affiliated with Tammany Hall were often referred to as the “braves” because the Tammany Society was actually named after a Deleware Indian chief. That was the year a profile of an Indian chief replaced the old English B on the team’s uniform jerseys.

Fred Tenney, the manager in 1911, still had a year on his contract. In baseball that seems to be an invitation to disaster. The team had a new nickname. The team had new uniforms. Why not get a new manager then? So, Johnny Kling came on the scene. He had been a pretty good man with the tools of ignorance (a catcher). He came to us from the Cubs and was name the replacement for Tenney. He actually was traded to us as a player and then got promoted. Well, results weren’t forthcoming. We eneded up 52-101 and finished eight, 52 games behind.

So, what is in a name huh?

The Miracle Braves (1914)

Tags

1914, Boston Braves, Connie Mack, George Stallings, Philadelphia Athletics

George Stallings

There are seasons and then there are SEASONS. 1914 was an amazing one for the Boston Braves (now in Atlanta). It was George Stallings second season as manager.

This was the season known as the “Miracle Braves of 1914″.

The Facts: 94-59. Finished first. 10 1/2 games ahead. An amazing year and an amazing story.

So you are George Stallings. Your team is dead last in the eight team National League on July 18. Not only last but what we know as dead last. No hope. But …

Some more facts. The second half you are 51-16 (.761). You win the last 34 of 44 games (.773).

Not only were you last at the second half turn, you end up leading by 10 1/2 games. No cliff hangers or doubts about the end there. So you go to the World Series to face the Philadelphia Athletics. Connie Mack’s team is favored.

The Braves sweep them in 4 games for the first time in World Series history. So George is labeled the “Miracle Man” and the Braves are known as the “Miracle Braves”.

It was the Big Train year (1913)

Tags

1913, Big Train, Walter Johnson, Washington Senators

The Boston Braves finished fifth in 1913. It was the year for the “Big Train” (a life long player for the Washington Senators. Walter Johnson went 36-7 and won the “pitching triple crown”. Walter has been thought of as the greatest right hander ever. It was the best season of his career.

In addition to going 36-7, he led the AL in wins, had an ERA of 1.09, strikeouts of 243. He is one of only six AL pitchers to win the triple crown. His ERA is the third lowest of all time. He had 11 shutouts and 55 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

Baseball is a game of second chances (1940)

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Billy Southworth, Boston Braves, St. Louis Cardinals

Billy Southworth

Billy Southworth got a second chance as a manager. Billy had played for the Boston Braves from 1921 to 1923.

1940 the Cardinals, were struggling and fired Ray Blades. In comes Billy, from Rochester. So, what happens. The Cardinals take off. They had some talented players like Stan Musial coming in from the farm teams. This started their “golden age”. After he came on board that season, they won 69 of 109 games. They move from seventh to third place. In 1941 they came in second. The next three years they won three penants and two World Series titles.

How is that for a second chance?

The first uniform numbers (1929)

Tags

1929, Babe Ruth, Cleveland Naps, Jack Graney, Lou Gehrig, New York Yankee, Uniform Numbers

Lou Gehrig

Jack Graney was an innovator although it didn’t take hold. In 1916 he was the leadoff batter for the Cleveland Naps. He wore a miniscule number one on his sleeve. This numbering system didn’t catch on and was discontinued the next year. Oh well. That is the way of innovation some times.

Very soon though the Yankees saw a rise in popularity. A whole bunch of new fans started coming to see them play but they didn’t know who the players were by sight. So, in a bold move, they introduced numbers in 1929. They made them very big. And they put them on the back of the uniform.

The original numbering system followed the batting order so Ruth was number 3, Gehrig was 4 and so on. All teams eventually matched this by 1932. In 1952 the next “innovation” occurred with the Dodgers putting them on the front as well but never became universal.

Braves loose to the Phillies (July 4, 1918)

Tags

1918, Boston Braves, Everett Wiley Wilson, July 4

The Boston Braves would lose the first game of a double header on July 4, 1918. This was the year before my dad (Everett Wiley Wilson) would be born.

Art Nehf was the loosing pitcher for the Braves.  At this point in the season, Al Wickland had the best batting average for the team with .289. Al was playing right field that day.  He would go 0-4

July 4 1918 Braves lose to Philly

Dave Bancroft proves a great player may not make a good manager (1924-1927)

Tags

1891, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, April 20, Casey Stengel, Dave Bancroft, Hall of Fame

Dave Bancroft – Boston Braves

Dave Bancroft was a shortstop with the Braves (then in Boston) from 1924 – 27. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa on April 20, 1891. He was a righty in all ways.

Dave helped shape a theory that “great players don’t make good managers”. He was an amazing shortstop. He could also hit very well with 2004 career hits.

But no matter what, the Hall of Famer couldn’t make it as a manager in his four year run as a player/manager.  But we probably ought to be fair. The two managers before him couldn’t do it either for seven years. Nor could a host of managers after him for 20 years including Casey Stengel.

Rabbit Maranville and the Deadball Era

Tags

1912, Boston Braves, Hall of Fame, Rabbit Maranville

Rabbit Maranville

Standing only 5’5″ and weighing a good deal less during the Deadball Era than his listed playing weight of 155 lbs., Rabbit Maranville compiled a lifetime batting average of just .258. He played for the Boston Braves from 1912 to 1920.  After several other stints as a player, he was back to the Braves from 1929 to 1933 plus 1935.

He is known as much for his zany escapades and funny stories as for anything he accomplished on the diamond. His outstanding glove work kept him in the big leagues for 23 seasons and eventually earned him a plaque in Cooperstown.

“Maranville is the greatest player to enter baseball since Ty Cobb arrived. I’ve seen ‘em all since 1891 in every league around the south, north, east, and west. He came into the league under a handicap–his build. He was too small to be a big leaguer in the opinion of critics. I told him he was just what I wanted: a small fellow for short. All he had to do was to run to his left or right, or come in, and size never handicapped speed in going after the ball.” ~~Boston Braves manager George Stallings.

The Names of the Atlanta Braves over the years

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1876, 1953, 1966, Atlanta Braves

I wouldn’t think there would be a controversy on baseball team names. You would think the history would be clear. But amazingly enough, for 1876 to 1882, some still called them the Red Stockings, some called them the Red Caps and others the Braves during those years.

The Braves franchise began in 1876 in Boston, moved to a Milwaukee in 1953, and came to a stop in Atlanta in 1966. Over the course of a century-plus they have seen three cities and many different official names.

So, I will use the following as the “official” reference but I could be wrong. 🙂

• Boston Red Caps 1876-1882
• Boston Beaneaters 1883-1906
• Boston Doves 1907-1910
• Boston Rustlers 1911-1911
• Boston Braves 1912-1935
• Boston Bees 1936-1940
• Boston Braves 1941-1952
• Milwaukee Braves 1953-1965
• Atlanta Braves 1966-Today

A long haul (1931)

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1931, Bill McKechnie, Boston Braves

Bill McKechnie

Well, it got worse in 1931. Rather than finish sixth like they had in 1930, the Boston Braves finished seventh.

Bill McKechnie continued as the manager. They had a record of 64-90 and were 37 games behind the leader.

They had played pretty good until August and September. Hard to overcome a 17-43 slide in those two months.

They were in for a long haul with McKechnie at the helm. It would never get too much better.